One of the few good things about the emphasis on ‘coding’ now is that as most people acknowledge that they know nothing about it, they leave the people teaching it in peace.
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Why you should collaborate on a Computing scheme of work (Updated)
In the article 12 Characteristics of a good Computing Scheme of Work I said that people should work with other people on their Computing scheme of work. Why?
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Quick looks: The collaboration book
I’ve just sent Teach Secondary magazine my review of this book, so I can’t say much before that’s published.
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Review: Iterate: The secret to innovation in schools
Having endured some fairly dreadful ‘initiatives’ in my time, delivered from on high with the directive to ‘make it work’, I approached Iterate with some trepidation.
Read MorePragmatism (Updated!)
Updated! It’s fine being a visionary, but somewhere along the line someone has to actually do something.
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A lesson, by Terry Freedman
50 features of excellent ICT and Computing lessons
What makes an excellent ICT or Computing lesson? In this document I've tried to encapsulate the answer to that question.
Read MoreBut where’s the pen?
Spaces and learning; spaces should be designed according to the kind of learning that people would like to experience in them.
Read MoreEd Tech Innovation–#3: Set the 5 minute test (updated)
When I was studying for my first degree at university, the hardest essay I was ever set in the whole three years was “Explain the competing theories about capital in no more than 500 words.” In this article, I explore how you might use this “less is more” approach in school.
Read MoreReview: Leadership: Lessons from a life in diplomacy
My reason for reviewing this book was to see if it might contain any useful lessons for SLTs.
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Picture credit: Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay
Authority or power?
The best distinction between authority and power that I’ve seen was in a politics book…
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Question mark, by Terry Freedman
Yes, But What Do I Actually Have To Do? (updated)
Would you know what to do if you were listening to you?
Read MoreWestminster Forum conference on Computing education: First impressions
I’ve started to compile a list of books and other kinds of reading matter you might wish to explore over the holidays. They’re not all to do with edtech — we all need a break!
Read MoreAs the school's edtech lead, you need to be pernickety
All too often these days there is so much to be done, and so little time to do it, that we have to adopt a “good enough” attitude. That’s fine most of the time….
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Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash
What's your dream team?
One of your tasks, along with your new colleagues, is to recruit people to be in your team. What a wonderful feeling that must be!
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Image by Tumisu, please consider ☕ Thank you! 🤗 from Pixabay
#FlashbackFriday: Lesson observation
A still-relevant article from a few years ago.
Read MoreAn education technology co-ordinator's spring-cleaning checklist (Revisited)
Well, it's spring again, and time for a good clean-up. Here is a checklist for the ed tech co-ordinator.
Read MoreManaging Change: The Importance of Planning (Updated)
I can't count the number of times I've sat in meetings and heard the team leader say, "OK, so by next month X will have happened. What's the next item on the agenda?", to which I've piped up: "Er, exactly how is it going to happen?".
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You don’t need an arrangement as elaborate as this! Photo: Press Association newsroom, by Terry Freedman
5 reasons to have a Computing news section of your lessons (Updated)
One of the ways in in which you can help enliven the Computing curriculum is to allocate some time in every lesson (yes, every lesson) to news. There are several reasons for this.
Bett. Photo by Terry Freedman
After Bett
There is always a danger that no matter how good an event like Bett is, it will turn out to have very little impact in the longer term, as you forget what you saw and more pressing concerns vie for your attention. Here are some suggestions for preventing that from happening.
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Explosive atmosphere, by Terry Freedman
Toxic leadership
It's all very well enjoying power, but ultimately power is only useful if it gets things done without unfortunate side effects.
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